Automatic acetylene gas generator



Feb. 13, 1940.

Filed Sept. 12, 1955 3 Sheet-Sheet 1 I I, A 10 L t v 5;: 1 u 5 v 23 50 i! 24 I 50 I M I:

I II .15 12 13 39 40 4 54 I 1 44 L/ l/ 1a s f; 21 2 e I, 145 I 11 v 3 19 31 I 5 g a 51 2 31 31 5 RoflcwutaSaflhw glwcnfo'n 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Site: v.44,

AUTOMATIC ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Fbb.l3;1940.

1 a if 8 ggy v/ w Feb. 13, 1940. c, SABIN 2,190,272

AUTOMATIC ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Filed Sept. 12, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 1 940 v {U IT D"51 415 3 rem FFiCE,

Y AUTOMATIC acE'rYLEN'Ej GAs GE ERATOR- i f Rolland C. Sabins. White Bear'Lake, Appiications'eptember12, 1935; Serial mitoses 1 i I 13 Claims. (c ia-919) My invention relatesto an automatic. acety lene gas generator, whereina portable gas gencrating unit is provided. lhegunita-ry construction ofymy generator providesa compact device which maybe easily carried and-setup wherever it is desired for use. 1

A feature of my automatic acetylene gas generator resides in an. inclosed unit wherein an air" sealed cell is provided which forms an inclosed air cushion within'thegeneraton; Thisair cushion is sealed within the generatingunit andin the'building upci gas pressure within theunit the air cell is compressed so that the water may recede" from. the carbide .when the pressure reaches a 'predetermined point withins the unit. Theair-'cell isof a simple constructionand mayv be formed of rubbertand adapted tc-fitinto one end of the tank, {forming the unit of'the ,gener-x atorand containing a predetermined volume 'of air which ishermeticalIy sealed within the cell.

. My generatorisfor'med so that it may be taken apart and cleaned'andreplenished with the carbide-cakef-rom time to time. The generator also includes/a safety valve means; a pressure gauge means, a screen and filter means.

, In a, form of my'generator, the air cell I or chamber which proyidesthe cushion for the gas in thegenerator, maybe built inthe tank of the generator and ainthis construction a'suitable flexible diaphragmis provided; :This construction also includes a means 'of supplying air pressure :to the air chamber below the diaphragm.

Ina-form of my'generat'orone portion of the tank thereof is provided with'an air cushioning chamber which extends about t he gas-chamber.

This is formed byadoublecylindrical wali constructionpthe inner-"cylinder extending down into the bottom andbeing sealed at-the top.. In this construction,.;the. air. cushion is. formed about the gas, chamber so that' when the gas pressure builds up, .the water may be forced down away from the carbide cake and up in a mannelvto compress the air in the air chamber.

Further, my generator is. provided with cam. I lever means for locking theunper and lower uni s mal water leveL.

together in a simple and efiective manner so that Whenthe generator is closed it is hermetically sealed from the outer atmosphere. vI also provide a suitable carrier for the lower portion of my generator which permits the lower portion which contains the adjustable carbide cake 'supporting means to be carried by a suitablebale. This permits the lime and water residue to be easily cleaned out and replenished with fresh water and new carbide cakes. I i

. Further, my generator is provided with a flexmits the rotationof the adjusting shaft for the ible sealing joint of a peculiar nature which per carbide cake supporting means from outside or thetank and provides a perfectly water and gas tight joint without-using a packing gland joint.

Thisiorm of seal for. the adjusting shaft is very desirable because it does not retard the movement a of the adjusting shaft.- Further, this sealing joint is particularly adapted where a limited movement is desired between the parts and where a flexible seal is required. :This sealing joint may be economically made andhas an indefinite lasting quality and requires'no attention.

, The structure of niy-gas generator provides a means of suspending the waterwithin the gen erator betweenthe 'carbideflcake and the air cushion. The air cushioncis hermeticallysealed in this construction from the water and by sus:

pending the water between thefair cushion and the lower end of the carbide receiving receptacle and sealing the air from direct contact with the water or the generated acetylene gas, a more practical generator device is provided and the air'cannot mix with the and thus I provide a safenacetylene gas generator. portion of the gasgenerator in a separatecom partment, should the wallsof the air compartment break down, the waterlevel in the generator would simply lower to such an extent as to make the generator just .that muchymore safe against the generation of the gas owing to the fact that such a condition would change lthe nor- These features, together with other details and acetylene gas and water,

.Further, by sealing the air in the lower objectswill'be more fully and clearly set forth in i the specification and claims.

The drawings show a means and apparatus oi carrying out my method.

Figure l'illustrates inside elevation my, auto- I natic acetylene gas generator apparatus.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of my gas generating unit in one form of. the same where .an air cell is usedwithin the generator tank.

Figure 3 illustrates a vertical section or another form of my portable gas generator apparatus. I

Figure 4 illustrates still another form of my portable gas generator apparatus. f v

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5- -5 of Figure 2, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-43 of Figure 3, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a vertical section on the line l-l' of Figure 4, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. ure 3, in the direction of the arrows. v

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional detail or the sealing joint for the carbide cage operating mechanism used in Figures 1, 2 and 5.

My unitary gas generator apparatus A is formed withan upper tank portion Hi and a lower or base tank portion H. The tank portions. ill and l l are held together by the cam operating clamps l2. It is desirable to provide the portable generating tank A with three or more clamps l 2 equally spaced apart and carried by the lower portion H of "thetank. The cam clamps l2 consist of a hook i3whioh is adapted to fit over the sealing flange M which is integrally connected with the upper tank portion ii A suitable annular sealing gasket l5 is-positioned within the flange 54 against which the upper edge iii of the lower portion H is adapted to bear to seal the tank portions Ill and H tightly together. The hooks 93 of the cam clamps'lZ are formed on the upper end of the rod ii. The rod 1'! is rotatably supported in the boss portion 18 which is secured to the tank portion. H. The lower end of the boss H3 is'formed witha cam surface [9. Upon the lower ends of the rods H are rotatably secured cam portions 28 which 00- operate with the cam surfaces E9 to draw the hooks it down tight against the flange M. The cam portion 26 is operated by suitable handles 2! which have an arcuate shape so that they may lie against the cylindrical outer surface of the portion H of the generator when the hooks l3 are in locked position. The hooks l3 are placed in looking position and then the cam 29 is operated by the handle 2| to draw the hooks tight.

is held upon the rod H by the nuts relative position within the generator A can be adjusted. I provide a suitable carrying bale25 which normally lies down when the generator is put together, as illustrated in Figure 2, but which can be raised up as illustrated in Figure 3, so that/when the generator A is taken apart by loosening the clamps $2, the lower portion H can be carried by the bale 25. Tue guide portions 24 have a T cross-sectional shape, whereas, the cage 23 for the carbide cake is formed with guide channels 26 which extend the length of the cage 23. The cage 23 has open slots 2'! formed in'the bottom of the same so that the water may be brought into contact with the lowermost cake of carbide resting in the cage 23 when the gas pressure in, the generator A recedes sleeve is welded integral to the side wall of the tank portion. A sleeve 34 is welded or integrally'connectecl to the shaft 28 adjacent the bearing Hand Ifformv a sealing joint between the sleeve 33 and the integral sleeve '34 by interposing vbetween the same and extending over the shaft a rubber hose 35 formed of a pure gum rubber so as to make the same tough and long wearing.' The hose 35 is held by hose clamps 36 to the sleeves 33 and 34, respectively.

The shaft 28 is operated by the lever 37 which is positioned on'the outside of the shank portion it as illustrated in Figure 1, and which conn'ects with the square end of the shaft 28. The lever Ellis operated on the gauge quadrant 38 and is held in adjusted position by the wing nut 39. The gauge marks 40 indicate the pressure of the gas for which the tank is set so that it will automatically generate the gas pressure indicatd by the gauge marks 43 when the lever 3'! is set at a predetermined point by the wing nut 39. The adjustment of the shaft 28 regulates the position of the carbide cage 23 within the generator A, as it will be apparent that the cage 23 can be raised and lowered'by rotating the shaft 28. The guides 24 holds thecage 23 in slidable position.

It will also apparent that the sealing joint which is made up. of the flexible rubber hose 35 and the hose clamps 36 provide a seal which is absolutely tight and will not leak gas or water in the operation of the shaft 28. This provides a novel sealing means so that the shaft 28 may be operated from outside of the tank portion H and is of a simple nature, requiring practically no attention until the. flexible rubber hose has entirely worn out It is desirable that the adjusting means for the gas pressure be outside of the generator A so that it may be set at no pound pressure while opening or closing the generator, and to the desired number of-pounds that the generator A is adapted to operate for when it is closed, so as to maintain a gas pressure within the same according to the setting of the lever 31 on the quadrant 38.

The upper portion 1 0 of the generator A is provided with a screen 48 which is held in place by the nuts it on the lower end of the pipe 43. The screen ll extends down in a conical shape and is adapted to support the filter 44 which may be of any'suitable material.

The pipeflfi extends on through the top of the I generator and supports the safety valve 45 which is positioned on top of thegenerator A to provide an escapementof'any excess gas pressure. The generator A is-pro'vided with a gas supply or outlet pipe 46 in which the shut-oil valve 47 is interposed and also a pressure gauge 48 to indicate the gas pressure in the generator.

I provide a carrying handle 49 on top of the generator 'A and a side carrying handle 50 which facilitates the handling of the same and so-that it can be carried from place to place if it is desired. My method of generating gas is carried at by aunitaryself-contained gas generating 2,190,272 apparatus which is hermetically sealed and which is adapted to automatically keep a predetermined gas pressure within the same.

In operation the lever 31 is set into the desired position when the generator is closed, to indicate the pounds of pressure desired in the tank. The cell B is inplace in the lower part of the generator A and a sufiicient amount of water is placed within the same so that when the lever 31 is adjusted to the desired position the calcium carbide cake which has been placed in the cage 23,

will come in contact with the water, whereupon and the pressure of the gas drops below the pressure indicated by the setting of the lever 31, the water in the generator A will be caused to rise by the expansion of the cell B, so that the water will contact the carbide in the receptacle 23 to start the generation of gas; Then as soon as the pressure of. the gas reaches the predetermined setting of the lever3'l, the water will be again forced away from the carbide, compressing the cell B, and automatically shutting ofi the generation of gas in the generator. In this manner the generator operates automatically to start and stop the generation of gas. The safety valve 45 protects the generator against excessive gas pressure within the same. The generator is simple in operation and may be readily set up in any place where it is desired for use.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the carbide cage 23 is held between the. guides 24 and the lower ends of the guides 24 fit in the channels 5| which extend along the inside of the lower portion I I of the generator'A to support the lower ends of the guides 24.. This construction permits the guides to be removed when it is desired to replace the cell B. The upper ends of the guides 24 are held spaced apart by the ring 52, andthe bale 25 engages as heretofore set forth, to permit the lower end H to be carried when the generator A is taken apart. Thus I provide a suitable carrying means for the lower portion I I of the generator A, so that when it is taken apart it may be lifted by the bale 25' and carried to a suitable place where the water and carbide cake may be renewed. This construction is carried out in the forms of my gen orator shown in Figures 1 and 2, and also in Figure, and as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

1e seal for the operating rod 28 which was described heretofore as shown in Figures 3 and 8, is for the'type of generator A shown in Figure 3. In this construction, the operating rod 28 is secured at the bottom of the portion I I.

In the construction of the generator in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 9, the seal is of the identical construction, using the flexible tube 35 which is held by the hoseclamps 36 on the end, however, in the construction of this generator A, the operating rod 28 is formed with its crank end 29 bent back at 28', as shown in Figure 9, so as to connect w th the link 30 which operates the cage 23 to raise and lower the same.' In this construction there is no inner support 32 for the rod 28, the rod 28 being supported by the long bearing nipple 33'Whicl1i5? welded to and extends through th side of the tankportion I Ipositioned up from the bottom ata point above the air cell B. Thus the operatingircd 28 in the structure of the generator A of Figures 1, 2, 5 and.9, operates above the air cell Binstead of down on the bottom as shown in Figure 8 and as used inltheconstruction of Figure 3 of my generator. Where the air cell B is used, it is desirable to remove a portion of the operating mechanism which raises and lowers the carbide-supporting cage 23in placing'the cell B in the lower part of thegenerator portion II or in removing thesar'ne, and by disengaging the lever arm 31 from the outer squared end of the rod 28 and removing the inner hose clamp 36 and then disengagingthe end 29' from the link 30, this operating mechanism may be removed leaving a passageway for the insertion or removal of the air cell B. 1 I

Inthe form of my generator A" shown in Figure 3, the carbide cage 23' is provided with the openings 27' in'the bottom of the same and the cage slides up and down betwenthe guides and supports 24'. The lever 21 adjusts the rod 28 to move the crank arms 29 andthus operate the link 30 to raise or lower the position of the carhide cage 23"in this: form of my generator A.

In this construction, the guides 24 run straight down to the bottom and are welded or otherwise secured integrally with the bottom of the generator. 1

The generator A is also formed with an upper portion Illand'a lower portionII' which are adapted to be separated as heretofore set forth,

in the construction of the generator A in Figures 1 l and 2, the cam clamp I2 holding the portions together.

In the form of thegenerator A, do not use upper portion I ll and projects downinto the bottom portion I I of the generator, as illustrated in Figure 3. The sleeve 53 forms an air chamber 54 about the gas compartment 55 in the generator A, so that when the gas pressure builds up in the chamber 55 in the operation of the generator, the water in the bottom I I is forced up in the chamber 54,compressing the air in the chamber 54 sufficiently to permit the water to recede away from the openings 21' and the carbide in the cage 23'. In this manner the generator A operates automatically the same as the generator A to supply a predetermined pressure'of gas in the chamber 55 which may be drawn through the pipe 46 as it is needed. Thus gas is generated automatically by the raising and lowering of the 1 water to contact the carbide in the cage 23.

I have shown another form of my gas genwhich I carry out my method of automatically generating acetylene gas or other gases where it is desired to provide a supply of the same at a predetermined pressure and have the same gen- I eral construction in the top thereof which provides the filter 44 and .the screen. 4! which may be removed by removing the collar nut 42. All

or the generators are-supplied with a safety valve off valve 4?.

In this type of the generator A", the carbide cage 23 is. supported by the clamping means in a set position within-the-upp er portion N3 of the generator. The clamp 56 maybe made in any suitable form and-is illustrated in .one of these forms in Figure 7. Here the clamp 55 is illustrated with a ring nut 5'1 which may tighten or loosen the clamp about the carbide cage so that the cage may be adjusted ,into the desired position or may be removed when it is desired to replenish the carbide cakeso'that a new supply of calcium carbide may-be placed within the cage 23" after the old lime residue has been removed.

The generator A" is constructed with. an. air sealed chamber B in the base portion! l. The chamber B is made by providing a flexible seal ing disc 58 across the bottom of the, generator which is sealedin place so as to provide an. air tight compartment 13 in the lower portion. 2 of the generator A. generator. A. isprovided with an air pump Cv which connects through the check and release valve 59 to the air chamber BC. The air pump C is adapted to regulate the air pressure within the air chamber 13' and in this manner the water level. within the generator. A may be variedaccording to the air pressure within the chamber BC. In this form of the generator as the gas is built up in the upper portion It" the, water level will be forced down away from the carbide cage. as to automatically stop the-generation of gas when the pressure of the gas has reached a predetermined point. 1

In the generator A" the adjustment pressure of the gas is regulated by the air pres-- sure in the chamber B and the air is supplied by thepump C. In this formof my generator it is not necessary to provide an adjusting means with an outer lever, such as 31, for regulating the position of the calcium carbide cake cage The acetylene generating operation, however, is the same in this generator as in the others, in that the gas is automatically generated .up to a predetermined point, whereupon the generation of gas ceases until the pressure. of thegas recedes. When the gas pressure recedes'the water level is raised up to the calcium carbide by the air in the chamber B, thus starting the generation of gas.

The apparatus discloses formsof generators which may be used in carrying out my method of automatically generating acetylenegas in a simple manner, with sealed containersof a unitary character which are portable andwhich are safe to operate. My method which includes the sealed air cushion. generator is verydes ble because it separatesthe air cushion entirely from the water and acetylene gas, making the generator more safe and readily responsive to operate to automatically maintain the desired gas pressure within the generator. My method consists in automatically generating the acetylene gas in a unitary sealed generator, wherein an air cell or sealed air chamber is provided with a predetermined volume of air, 1 where the volume of air may be increased or decreased as may be desired, the check valve 59 being formed in a manner so that it may be released to permit some of the air to escape from the chamber 28.

Thus my method is carried out by suspending a quantity of calcium carbide in an adjustable container above a 'volumeof waterand .providof the wer and a. pressure gauge 48, aawellasashuting a sealed air cushion, and causing the water to automatically raise and lower into and out or" contact with the -calcium carbide or similar substance to automatically maintain a predetergas pressure within a container. The generatorsdisclosed carry out this method and are ofa simple structure which may be readily operatedwhen setup and charged for use. Further, the generators being of a unitary character are completely sealed yet they may be opened and cleanedirom time to time and provided with a new supply of calcium carbide and water in an easy manner so as to simplify the maintenance of these generators.

' In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of my method and generator apparatus which I have disclosed to assist in carrying out my method and it is apparent that variations may be made in the construction of said apparatus without departing from the container to provide a sealing joint for said movable .inember providing a liquid and gas tight connection between the wall or" the container and the movable member.

2. An acetylene gas generator including a gas compartment, an adjustable support for a. calcium carbide cake adapted to form a gas upon contacting water, a water compartment, resillent compressible means beneath the water level of said water compartment compressible by an increase in gas pressure within the gas compartment to move said water level out of contact with said cake, means outside of said generator for setting said cake support for automatically maintaining a predetermined gas pressure in said generator.

3. An automatic acetylene gas generator comprising a calcium carbide cake support, a water compartment, and a hermetically sealed expansible and contractable air compartment in said water compartment beneath the water level, a

container, an adjustable supporting means with in said container for calcium carbide, means ex tending from the outside of said container connected to said supporting means to adjust the same, a water compartment in said container, an air cushion compartment in said container adjoining said water compartment, and 2. flexible sealing joint for said adjusting means for said carbide supporting means, said sealing 7 means includinga flexible tubular member bound on each end by sealing clamps to hold one end thereof stationary with the container casing and the other end movable with the adjusting means for the carbide container.

acetylene gas generator including atank bide cake supporting means to set the same in.

a manner to maintain a constant gas pressure automatically in said tank by. raisingor lowering the water level in accordance with the pressure of the gas within said tank.

6. An acetylene gas generator including upper and lower sections, means for sealing said sections together, a hermetically. sealed air com partment positioned in the base of said generator, said air compartment being capable of compressing under pressure to'considerably lower the water level, a water compartment contacting said air compartment and providing a water level above said air compartment in said generator, a resilient flexible partition permanently separating said air and water compartments, a cal cium carbide container, and means for setting said carbide container in a predetermined position insaid generator in relation to the water level, whereby a predetermined acetylene gas pressure will be maintained in said generator.

'7. A portable acetylene gas generator including a sectional gas tank having upper and lower portions, means for sealingsaid portions together, an adjustable holder for calcium carbide cake supported in said lower portion, a valved gas outlet, a sealed compressible air cushion compartment below the water level in said generator compressing upon an increase of gas pressure in said tank to lower the water level beneath said holder, and a resilient flexible partition permanently separating said air cushion compartment from said water compartment.

8. An acetylene gas generator including a unitary, portable tank, an adjustable calcium carbide cake holder in said tank, a filter outlet, a flexible diaphragm extending completely across said tank forming a compressible air compartment hermetically sealed in said tank, a water compartment above said diaphragm and air. compartment, wherebya predetermined gas, pressure in said tank will depress said diaphragm and compress said air compartment to automatically lower the water level within the tank beneath said holder and stop the generation of gas within.

9. An acetylene gas generator comprising upper and lower portions, means for sealing said portions togethena gas chamber in said upper portion, a valve release gas outlet leading from said upper portion, a calcium carbide supporting means adjustably suspended within said tank, a compressible air chamber within said tank, a water compartment above said air chamber associated with said compressible chamber, a resilient flexible partition permanently separating said air chamber from said water compartment, said compressible chamber being compressed by an increase in gas pressure to lower the water level beneath said calcium carbide, and means outside of said generator for setting said carbide support in a position in. relation to the water level in said generator to automatically cause the generation of acetylene gas within saidgenerato-r to build up a predetermined gas pressure and automatically maintain the same by raising and lowering the water level within said generator.

10. An automatic acetylene gas generator including a gas chamber, a water chamber, a safety. valve, an adjustable receptacle adapted to sup port in suspension calcium carbide, a compressible hermetically sealed air chamber below the water level, and a flexible resilient partition between said air chamber and said water chamber, whereby the water level within said generator may be automatically raised and lowered by decreases and increases respectively, of gas pressure built up within the generator to maintaina uniform gas pressure within the generator to proride a uniform supply of gas therefrom.

11. A separable acetylene gas. generator including upper and lower portions, means for sealing said portions together, a gas chamber in said upper portion, means for slidably suspending calcium carbide within said chamber, a hermetically sealed compressible air chamber within said generator, compressible to smaller volume by increasing gas pressure within the generator, a

water compartment abovesaid air chamber, the water level in which is affectedby variations in sizeofsaid air. chamber, flexible resilient means permanently separating said air chamber and. water compartment and means outside of said generator for adjusting the predetermined gas pressure adapted to be automatically maintained within said generator.

12. An acetylene gas generator comprising a generating tank including upper and lower portions, means for clamping and sealing said portions together, a gas compartment in said upper portion, a safety valve release connected with said gas compartment, a supply passageway leading from said gas compartment, a valve for closing said supply passageway, an expandible and contractable sealed air compartment in said lower portion of said generator below the water level variable in size proportional to decreases and increases, respectively, in gas pressure in said'gas compartment, a calcium carbide support suspended above said air cell, a water compartment above said air compartment, said sealed air compartment providing means for regulating the water level in said water compartment automatically within said generator by variations in volin to start and stop the generation of gas to i maintain a predetermined gas pressure within said generator, and flexible resilient partition means permanently separating said air compartment and water compartment.

13. An acetylene gas generator including a sealed tank portion, a support within said tank for calcium carbide adapted to form gas" when contacting water, and a hermetically sealed compressible air compartment below the water level variable in size in inverse proportion to thevariations in size of said air cell and adapted to form an air cushion within said generator, flexiblev resilient partition means permanentlyseparating said air compartment from the remainder of said tank, said generator operating to maintain automatically a predetermined gaspressure within the same by varying the water level while sufiicient calcium carbide remains withinsaid generator.

ROLLAND C. SABINS. 

